During an interview, the then-41-year-old woman, Kathi, said that she had suffered the worst decade of her life. She was ill for 10 years and doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her. And she needed help. But she had practically given up hope. Until one day when a crew of repairmen made an incredible discovery in her furnace. The unfortunate woman was sick and tired of being sick and tired. Doctors turned her away, her relationship with her daughter was suffering, and she was miserable. Eventually, she accepted her fate. If no one could help her, she would help herself. But she never expected this.
Her daughter, Ashely, forced her to go and see a doctor. But the doctor just confirmed what she already knew, and she was given a sick note to take a few days off from work to rest. But Kathi’s illness was unshakeable. Kathi was pale and had random bouts of exhaustion. Her appetite vanished, and her health continued to decline. Ashley was growing increasingly worried. Weeks after her first visit, she dragged Kathi back to the doctor. Dr. Hensley, beginning to take Kathi seriously, ran blood and allergy tests in hopes of picking up any disease or intolerance. All the tests confirmed that Kathi was a healthy woman. They didn’t have a diagnosis, but they decided to try an “elimination” approach, so Kathi was put on several different antibiotics. Dr. Hensley had hoped that Kathi’s reaction to the medications would give her an insight into her ailment, but instead, the opposite happened.
Kathi started to feel worse instead of better. She had body aches and could barely keep her eyes open. Then the mystery illness started to take a toll on her mental health. Her friends and family members started to worry. As time went by, more and more people lost faith in her, and no one could give her answers. Kathi visited her doctor regularly over the next 10 years. Dr. Hensley provided Kathi with the best care and tested for everything that she could. She went to great lengths to attempt to diagnose Kathi. One day, Kathi decided to do a bathroom makeover. She arranged contractors to take care of the job. But shortly after, they made a shocking discovery. The contractor’s forehead crumpled with concern when he asked Kathi when her water heater had been installed. Kathi knew that it had been installed years before she had gotten sick, and Ashley must have been a little girl at the time.
She thought hard and replied: “Maybe 10 years ago?” The contractors were horrified. They had discovered that the furnace and water heater, fitted incorrectly, were causing trace amounts of carbon monoxide to escape and leak into the house over an extended period of time. Prolonged exposure can have serious effects, including vomiting, muscle weakness, fainting, and confusion. Some cases of CO poisoning even result in death. But how had she been misdiagnosed again and again? After years of searching for answers from specialists and healthcare professionals, Kathi had lost hope. But now, Kathi’s decade-long symptoms suddenly all made sense! The most unexpected visitors had finally giver her an answer. Kathi hasn’t felt this good in years. She got so much more than just a new bathroom from the contractors — she got her life back. Kathi wishes that she had pushed harder for a diagnosis. She had been called crazy, delusional and a hypochondriac for a decade because the tests were negative. She was prescribed the usual bed rest, exercise, or pills, but nothing helped. No one could give her the answers.
